Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Exams – 16 March 2018

1. Indian football team re-enters top-100 in FIFA rankings.

The Indian football team has reached at 99th place in the latest world ranking released by FIFA.

The team, which did not play any international match in this ranking period, jumped three places to enter the top-100 for the first time this year. It now has 339 points to its kitty to be at joint 99th spot with Libya.

Last year, the Indian team broke into the top-100 three times, rising as high as 96th in July — the second best ever after the 94th place attained in February 1996. But it ended the year at 105th spot.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Department of Fertilizers to continue Urea Subsidy Scheme upto 2019-20 at a total estimated cost of Rs. 1,64,935 crore and for disbursement of fertilizer subsidy. This decision implies that there will be no increase in price of urea, till 2020.

3. India’s growth to touch 7.3% next fiscal, 7.5% in 2019-20: Fitch

According to Fitch rating agency, India’s growth rate will be 7.3 percent in the next financial year and 7.5 percent in 2019-20

4. 17th World Conference on Tobacco held in South Africa.

The 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) was held in Cape Town, South Africa from 7-9 March 2018.

It united researchers, academics, non-governmental organisations, civil society, scientists, healthcare professionals and public officials working on all aspects of tobacco control from more than 100 countries.

5. LaQshya programme launched for pregnant woman.

The Union Health Ministry recently announced the launch of LaQshya, a programme aimed at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity operation theatre.

The programme, the Ministry claimed, will improve the quality of care for pregnant women in labour rooms, maternity operation theatres, and obstetrics Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units.

6. Narendra Modi inaugurates the 105th Indian Science Congress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inauguratethe 105th edition of the Indian Science Congress in Imphal on March 16.

The Science Congress will see congregation of about 5000 delegations including three Noble laureates, scientists, scholars and researchers from all across the country.

7. Karnataka Bank has opened its first fully Women operated branch in Bangalore.

Karnataka Bank opened its first all-woman branch at Bull Temple Road in Bengaluru. This is the 800th branch of the bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahabaleshwara MS, Managing Director and CEO, said the bank opened 36 branches during 2017-18.

8. Mumbai sees first edition of Women of India Organic Festival.

The 4th Edition of Women of India Organic Festival will be held at World Trade Centre, Mumbai from March 16 – 20, 2018.

Mumbai is hosting the first edition of ‘Women of India Organic Festival’ at the World Trade Centre, which was inaugurated on Friday by Juhi Chawla, Vidya Thakur, Pankaja Munde, and Madhu Shah. This festival has been organised on an annual basis in Delhi by the Ministry of Women & Child Development since 2015. In Mumbai, this is its debut appearance. Mumbai, has, in last few years, seen a rise in the number of people buying organic produce. Consequently, the city has responded well to the event.

9. MDWS Bags Award for best implementation of E-office.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for implementation of e-office software.

The award was received by Shri SatyabrataSahu, Joint Secretary and Mrs Seemantinee Sengupta, Senior Technical Director, HOD, NIC-MDWS, on behalf of the Ministry at a function heldat the Ministry of Personnel, Grievances and Pension.

10. India ranked 133rd in World Happiness Index 2018.

India has been ranked 133rd in a global list of the happiest countries, according to a UN-based report.

The World Happiness Index 2018, which measures 156 countries in terms of happiness, has placed India in the 133rd position, a drop of 11 places from last year’s 122nd rank. The country was ranked 118th in 2016.

India’s ranking was far behind from other neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal and China to name a few.